Tag: Gov’t Mule

Gov’t Mule are probably the kings of the jam band scene, taking a song and stretching it way beyond the original. This album is part three, of what was originally released as a whole thing. The songs here are taken out of context and order of the original.

The album opens up with the superb slow blues of Hammer & Nails with some slide playing by Warren Haynes. An old band favourite is next with Trane, where the band take the song to different places every time they play it. Not many bands do this anymore as they nearly all play to click tracks and each gig you go to is very regimented, music-wise. The best parts of going to a music show would be these jam sections. Dreams & Songs closes out Side 1. Warren has such a warm tone to his voice and you feel as though you are sat on a porch down in Macon Georgia.

Whisper In Your Soul opens up Side 2 and this is quite an epic sounding piece from the slow build up to the groovy hook, this is a wonderful performance. Little Toy Brain starts slow low and bluesy and the listener feels as though they have been bought back to the mid-seventies. The album closes out with Funny Little Tragedy, with the added bonus of Message In A Bottle thrown in. The groove and the bass line are very similar so why not!

Going to see The Mule is quite the experience and one I recommend to all.

8/10 from The Grooveman.

What started out as a little side project from the Allman Brothers Band, has turned into (along with Tedseschi Trucks) one of the biggest jam bands around. The first two albums are classics, and since those early days the band has morphed into this all encompassing behemoth – with the original vision of the band lost somewhat.

I know Warren has mentioned for some time that he wanted to do and old school blues album – and here it is…well not entirely true. There are a couple of tunes that have that modern blues sound namely Make It Rain, which has a killer fuzz tone, Feel Like Breaking Up Somebody, which has that cool funk under groove to the song, I Asked For Water which has a very heavy Hendrix vibe – I really love this track.

All in all, a great selection of blues tunes played with great respect and feel.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

Formed back in 1994 as an offshoot of the (then) members of the Allman Brothers, Warren Haynes and Allen Woody, they wanted to get back to basics with a good old fashioned three piece in the vein of Free. This is the first album they did, and in my mind this was the best, as after it they would expand their sound and scope of the material they would cover.

The album opens with Warren just singing alone on the track Grinning In Your Face, and the tone he has to his voice is just beautiful. This leads into Mother Earth – a blues based tune heavy on guitar and groove – and that voice! Rocking Horse is up next and has that off funky groove mixed with a good dose of Southern attitude. The production is awesome and super clear – showing the beauty of a three piece with that uncluttered sound. Monkey Hill doth follow with the fuzz vocal and the first glimpse of Warren’s slide playing. Temporary Saint is a slow tune with the guitar dripping in reverb and chorus – and again, that amazing voice. As you would expect there is always room a for a solo and they deliver in every tune. Trane is next up and probably was the blueprint for the whole band. It’s very loose and it feels as though they were just jammin’ and they pressed record and let it go.

The band’s own theme song is up next, Mule, and is a freaking awesome tune with a killer riff, groove, melody, and chorus – the whole nine yards. Worth the price of admission alone kiddies! The acoustic flavoured, Dolphineus, is next and does remind you of Zeppelin with a southern feel. This leads into the even more Zeppelin sounding intro of Painted Silver Light. I mentioned Free further up the page, and their cover of Mr. Big is just outstanding – not many singers could pull that off, let alone the guitar. Allen Woody’s bass is amazing on this track. Left Coast Groovies is the penultimate track, and again there is that off groove funk underlying the whole tune and a riff that turns up in the middle of the song. Jeez! Save the best till last??? Well yes, but the whole album is amazing. World Of Difference is just epic. Clocking in at 10.15, it is the perfect end to the album. A stunning vocal and guitar tour de force.

Yet another album that belongs in the everyone should own one folder.

10/10 from The Grooveman.